Public Statements

Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Bypassing Congress to Grant Back-Door Amnesty

Letter

Congressman Diane Black (R-TN) issued the following statement regarding today's announcement by the Obama administration on its immigration enforcement policies:

"Once again, President Obama is prioritizing election-year politics and illegal immigrants ahead of the rule of law and the American people. His policy change amounts to back-door amnesty that will be funded on the backs of hard-working, law-abiding Americans. When unemployment remains above 8 percent, for some reason the President thinks it's a good idea to add hundreds of thousands of new people to the job market to compete with Americans for jobs. That's insulting to the millions of unemployed Americans," said Congressman Black. "I have sent a letter to the President calling on him to reverse his decision. As long as the decision stands, I will pursue all means necessary whether that's through legislation or the court system to fight this outrageous power-grab by the President."

The following is a copy of the letter Congressman Black sent to President Obama:

I am outraged by today's announcement that your administration will stop the deportation of some 800,000 people who are in our country illegally. Not only does this undermine our country's rule of law, it is an abuse of executive power.

By going around Congress to offer backdoor amnesty to nearly a million people, your administration is in direct violation of the separation of powers as defined in the U.S. Constitution. When we should be focusing on enforcing and strengthening our existing immigration laws, your initiative is a blatant breach of faith with the American people.

With unemployment at a staggering 8.2 percent, your policy would grant work permits to hundreds of thousands of people currently ineligible to work in this country. The consequences of this policy will be incredibly damaging to unemployed Americans.

This policy change amounts to back-door amnesty that will be funded on the back of hard-working, law-abiding Americans. Illegal immigration already costs U.S. taxpayers roughly $113 billion each year. Granting work visas for nearly a million illegals is unconscionable when millions of Americans are unemployed. Not only will they be competing with Americans for jobs, but they will likely be eligible for guaranteed services and benefits -- costing law-abiding taxpayers even more as the U.S. debt surges towards 16 trillion dollars.

I am asking that you not bypass Congress in your attempt to grant amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants on U.S. soil. As Commander-in-Chief, you took a Constitutional oath to uphold the laws of our land. You cannot continue to willfully ignore the laws and intent of Congress.